Longtime Mississippi State faculty members Louis R. D’Abramo of Starkville and James A. "Jim" Steeby of Inverness are being honored by the U.S. Aquaculture Society.
D’Abramo is dean of the university’s Graduate School, associate vice president for academic affairs and professor of wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture. Steeby is associate extension professor and extension aquaculture specialist at the Stoneville-based Delta Branch Experiment Station’s Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center.
Recognized for significant contributions to the aquaculture industry, they were praised by their peers at the society’s recent annual meeting in San Diego, Calif.
D’Abramo received the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award, the organization’s highest honor. An MSU faculty member since 1984, the Yale University doctoral graduate earlier received the highest award of the World Aquaculture Society, as well as major recognitions from the U.S. Freshwater Prawn and Shrimp Growers associations.
An MSU doctoral graduate, Steeby was recognized with the 2010 Distinguished Service Award for his work with producers to decrease fish production costs and increase farm safety. He joined the Delta Branch in 1982.
The U.S. Aquaculture Society is a chapter of the World Aquaculture Society, an international non-profit organization with more than 3,000 members in about 100 countries.
